- Understand the significance of potassium in historical pigments and inks analysis.
- Identify potassium’s role in the manufacturing processes of lakes and inks.
- Analyze potassium peaks in XRF spectra and apply optimal detection techniques.
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE) sample.
- Samples of alum, stil de grain, indigo, and iron gall ink.
- stil de grain, indigo, and iron gall ink from PIGMENTS CHECKER.
- XRF spectrometer (configured for no-filter setup).
- Discuss the historical use of potassium in manufacturing pigments, such as lakes and inks.
- Explain the role of alkaline solutions like potassium hydroxide and potassium-aluminum sulfate in colorants extraction and stabilization.
- Overview of potassium’s XRF characteristics, including K alpha and K beta peaks at 3.3 and 3.6 keV.
- Comparison of peak separations in potassium, sulfur, and chlorine to emphasize detection precision.
- Explain the no-filter setup and its importance in detecting trace potassium.
- Alum: Test and analyze its spectrum, noting the clear separation of potassium peaks.
- Stil de Grain: Discuss potassium’s role in extracting colorants from buckthorn berries and analyze its spectrum.
- Indigo: Highlight the use of potassium hydroxide in the manufacturing process and examine the spectrum.
- Iron Gall Ink: Explore the addition of potassium carbonate in stabilizing ink and analyze its spectrum for potassium content.
- Discuss how potassium content can help distinguish different manufacturing processes.
- Emphasize its use in analyzing historical artifacts and quantifying potassium to identify specific techniques and materials.
To reinforce the concepts discussed here, we also provide a video lesson that visually walks through the key points of this topic. Watching the video alongside the text can help you better understand and apply these ideas in practice.
The course XRF Spectroscopy for Art Examination introduces conservators, art historians, and scientists with interest in Art to the principles and practical applications of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy in the examination of artworks. The course starts with basic principles of XRF and gradually explores its role in identifying materials and methods used in the creation and conservation of art.
Course Objectives
- Understand the fundamentals of XRF spectroscopy and how it applies to the analysis of art.
- Learn the key features and limitations of XRF for examining art and archaeology.
- Gain skills in interpreting XRF spectra to identify specific elements in paint layers, inks and metals.
Scientific Art Examination – Resources:
Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) – USA
The British Museum – Scientific Research Department – UK
Scientific Research Department – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
C2RMF (Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France) – France
Rijksmuseum – Science Department – Netherlands
